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The Thomas Jefferson Discussion Group
of Orlando, Florida
Meeting No. 53 -December 13, 2005
Holiday House Restaurant, Orlando, Florida
THIS MONTH'S TOPIC:
ATTAINING AND LOSING POWER IN A DEMOCRACY
Democracy is messy and time consuming. Having your life guided, or in the extreme case directed by others has its advantages – more time for video games and reality TV. Seductive, isn’t it? What’s wrong with having one person (ideally strong, fair and wise) and accountable to no one, make all those knotty decisions needed for people to successfully live together - balancing the individuals’ self-interest with the interest of the common good?
Needless to say, Thomas Jefferson had some very strong ideas on the subject. Lord Acton in the last half of the 19th century, succinctly summed up the risk and trade-off a society makes if they embrace (or have imposed upon them) a despotic form of government: "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely." France learned this lesson as they came out of their revolution with a government driven by terror - then, to 3 or 4 democratically-based constitutions that granted power to elected representatives. One after another these were quickly scrapped because the hundreds of people elected couldn’t agree on anything – finally, to granting Napoleon through referendum, absolute power - not only to him, but to his heirs! This led to disaster.
We experienced this form of unchecked power when in 1766 the British Parliament issued the Declaratory Act. Britain asserted absolute power "in all cases whatsoever" over their American colonies who had no Parliamentary representation. This, of course, led to Jefferson writing the Declaration of Independence that justified our separation from the British government and, I think more importantly, eloquently stating the limited purpose of any government: protecting every individual’s birthright to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Governments based on power granted and checked by the people are messy – but, history indicates that they better serve the people.
Now, what goes along with voluntarily giving up power as a citizen does through agreeing to a Federal and State Constitution, is a person’s willingness to risk having others make decisions with which they disagree. Consequently, having their own interest adversely affected. The result to an individual can be the same as having a dictator make those decisions!
Jefferson believed in the collective wisdom of the people over the singular "wisdom" of a despot – Therein lies the difference.
Unless the mass retains sufficient control over those entrusted with the powers of their government, these will be perverted to their own oppression, and to the perpetuation of wealth and power in the individuals and their families selected for the trust.
1812 - Thomas Jefferson to M. van der Kemp
But, was Jefferson consistent throughout his life, through his presidency, with this philosophy? Did he "walk the talk?" We’ll discuss this and how it relates to decision-making in the present day tomorrow evening. Meeting location: Holiday House in the La Quinta Inn at the intersection of I-4 and Lee Road. Hope to see you about at 6:30.
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